Gillard congratulates Mills on NT win

Prime Minister
Julia Gillard
has congratulated the Northern Territory's new leader Terry Mills after the Country Liberal Party's decisive win in Saturday's election.

After a backlash led by bush voters, the Australian Labor Party in the Northern Territory seems likely to secure only eight seats in the NT's 25-seat Legislative Assembly, with one independent re-elected, although votes are yet to be fully counted.

"Prime Minister Julia Gillard today congratulated Terry Mills and the Country Liberal Party on their win in the Northern Territory election," a statement from the Prime Minister's office said.

A spokesman for Ms Gillard confirmed on Sunday morning that the prime minister had called Mr Mills to personally congratulate him.

The majority of the nine-paragraph press release was devoted to praising the legacy of outgoing chief minister Paul Henderson, with only two references in it to Mr Mills.

Ms Gillard said in the statement Mr Henderson had been dynamic and courageous during a time of expansion and change.

"He leaves the position of chief minister with an outstanding record of achievements in health and education, including a huge boost for education for remote indigenous communities," she said.

"Importantly, he leaves an economy in superb condition, with an unemployment rate of just 4 per cent, down from 7.4 per cent, the envy of the developed world."